Restored loft preserves sense of history

Buildings surrounding the square in downtown Macomb tell architectural and historical stories of the region, but a century of rugged living has weakened their voice.

Clare Howard

Buildings surrounding the square in downtown Macomb tell architectural and historical stories of the region, but a century of rugged living has weakened their voice.

One of these historic buildings long past its prime was admired by insurance agent Gerry Wise. He walked by the two-story brick building at 19 East Side Square daily on the way to his office at Purdum Gray Ingledue insurance agency.

Wise was intrigued by a plaque on the building: "William H. Ball Barber Shop, First African-American Business in Macomb, 1872."

At the time, Wise was living in an 800-square-foot starter home in East Peoria and commuting to Macomb. When he noticed a for-sale sign on the building, he jumped at the opportunity. He had worked his way through college doing construction and felt up to the challenge of restoring the structure.

That was 2004. Today, Wise, 37, lives in the second-floor loft with his Brittany spaniel, Bailey, and rents the lower level to H&R Block. Renting the retail space pays the mortgage on the building.

The renovation took about two years.

Wise said he now often feels claustrophobic visiting friends in traditional homes. Even though his living space is not inordinately expansive at under 2,000 square feet, the high ceilings and large, 7-foot windows create a feeling of spaciousness.

The loft is about 100 feet long and 20 feet wide. Wise and his father worked on the rehab together, removing an 8-foot drop ceiling and restoring 11 1/2-foot ceilings. They found original piping in the ceiling for gas lights.

All the old windows were replaced with thermal paned windows, which reduce heating and cooling costs and muffle noise from traffic around the square.

"When I first got these windows installed, I didn't have blinds. I had to watch TV with sunglasses on," Wise said.

Floors in the two front rooms had been carpeted over unfinished planks. Rather than install new wooden floors, Wise put down laminate flooring except in the rear bedroom, where he sanded and sealed the wooden planks.

He and his father installed a granite counter top on an island in the kitchen. Still left to renovate are a half bathroom and the ceiling in the kitchen-dining room.

Wise estimates he and his father did about half the renovation work, but they hired someone to do the electric, plumbing and laminate flooring.

The front windows face west toward the courthouse, a Second Empire Revival building constructed in 1872 of brick and limestone. The courthouse was renovated in 1978 and 1979.

"I can sit up here and people watch and still be very private," Wise said. "Sunsets are beautiful."

The building was listed for $110,000. Following the renovation, it is valued for insurance purposes at $550,000.

Wise said a loan from the city helped with renovation costs.

He favors a plan currently being discussed to establish a historic district around the courthouse.

Ed Basch, community development coordinator in Macomb, said the City Council passed a historic preservation ordinance and is now surveying property owners regarding establishment of a historic district.

A historic district would mean property owners could become eligible for tax credits, but it also means alterations to the outside and possibly some inside work are subject to approval by a historic preservation commission.

Basch said the district would help preserve the heritage of downtown Macomb and could be an economic incentive for the community.

Establishment of the district would require approval of 51 percent of the 96 different property owners.

"Studies show establishment of a historic district is a marketing tool. It preserves the character of a community, draws more visitors and stimulates the economy, but it's not just economics," Basch said.

He would like to see more second-floor living space developed in the proposed district.

"The one thing that makes a downtown vibrant is people living there," Basch said. "Residents mean there are more people at all times of day and night. When a downtown is only work, at 5 p.m. everyone leaves."

Wise said he can walk to the grocery store, restaurants, banks, post office and coffee shops.

"I can walk my dog and socialize with people," he said. "It's nice to be able to connect with the community that way."

Basch said there are a number of additional buildings on the square that can be renovated for commercial space on the street level and residential space on the second floor.

"There is some talk that the state might create complementary tax credits. That would be wonderful," he said. "We have been told downtown Macomb has a lot of unique, architecturally distinctive buildings."

Keel Clemmens works in the archives and special collections at Western Illinois University and is a member of the new historic preservation commission.

He said the region was in a military tract of land given in return for service in the War of 1812.

"We have these historically significant buildings on the square that are walking distance from the Amtrak station. These are mostly 100-year-old buildings that are still affordable," Clemmens said. "These are wonderful buildings, and we want to preserve as much of the square as possible."

Clare Howard can be reached at (309) 686-3250 or choward@pjstar.com.

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